Hey. I know I said it would take some time, but after some days of crying, and even nights that are very lonely without a snuggling 14pound lump fluffbjtt beside me, I started trying to get better slowly. I still miss her very, very much. But I'm so glad she's back home, in a decorative vase. I'm still dealing with death, but I'm slowly getting better. Thank you to everyone who has told me their condolences. I really appreciate it. Practically almost made me cry. :')

It also helped when I drew some fan work, and I even started a couple of chapters for you. So again, thank you so much for your kind words, and I hope that you'll like what I made. I'm kinda hoping I didn't botch up the writing, or story since I was busy grieving. Oh well, thank you and enjoy.

"Whew...! I'm tired!" Sonic groaned after plopping down on the ground beside Miles. He did the same letting out a more louder sigh.

"Me too...!" he groaned.

It took at least the entire day of nothing, but walking and arguing over little things between a few of the travelers. After some complaining of tired feet, or sleep, Shadow finally decided to agree with them and told them to stop so they could set up camp for the night. It was a long journey back and they were possibly almost up to the half point of their path from the village to the Kingdom of Light. So after a couple of minutes moving around to make room for a fire pit and make sure of no dangers around the area, they all sat down after Miles had successfully created a tiny fire before it would grow in time.

Amy sat beside Cream still holding on to the instrument almost for dear life. It was special to her, equally because it was almost the same as what her sister had used before, and Shadow payed a lot of money to get it for her out of the kindest of his heart. She didn't want anything to ruin it, or lose it. Cream smiled at it, then looked up at her, "Do you think of playing it sometimes?" she asked.

She looked down at her harp almost wanting to play it, but sadly, she didn't know how. Only listened when her sister would play for her, "I'm sorry, Cream. I can't." she said looking back up at her friend.

Cream's ears slightly drooped, "I'm sorry. But I'm sure it would've made such beautiful music." she smiled again hoping it would cheer her up a little.

"You know? I used to play an instrument back home." Sonic chimed in after listening to the girls' small conversation, "My uncle is a well known carpenter who doesn't always fix homes, but he had also created special things like beds, chair, and other types. He made me a special gittern that I still have back home."

Espio was sitting by himself with his legs and arms crossed listening in, "I, too, have a lute back home my father had brought back from his trips. But, sadly, I haven't played since I was knighted. But my princess did always ask me to play for her sometime." Sonic snapped his fingers towards him.

"So does Aqua! Small world here." he chuckled before looking over to Shadow who was resting against an old tree stump looking quite content with his eyes closed and arms crossed, "Hey, Shadow? Ever played?"

The said hedgehog didn't open his eyes, but answered with a quiet "No."

Sonic rolled his eyes, "Kill joy.." he muttered making the dark knight grumble afterwards.

"I do wish there was a way to hear you two play." Cream wished smiling at them, "My mother used to sing to me and...now that me and Miles are far from home, I feel homesick."

Amy quickly wrapped her arm around her new friend hoping it would be at least comforting to the sad rabbit, "I'm sorry, Cream. I wish I knew how to play for you."

Miles looked at his old friend, then to each of them looking quite sad himself. Fortunately, he hatched a new plan to make her smile, "Well...I could use a little of my magic?" he smiled to her while waving his staff around in a circle.

She looked at him confused, "Miles? Are you sure? You know your master said to use your spells sparingly." she warned him.

"If he said he wants to help you, then by all means. It's something special so why not?" Sonic chipped in feeling kinda excited to see how Miles can use his magic.

After a few seconds of looking at him, then Miles, Cream nodded with a small worried smile. Miles nodded, then looked up at his staff while closing his eyes and muttering some incantation under his breath. Suddenly, the staff began to glow brightly and started to shake in his strong grip. Everyone, but Cream watched in either amazement, or shock as a bright green light shot out from the gem near Sonic's feet and another at Espio's. Both of them jumped away in time and possibly ready to attack if necessary, but the glowing orb seemed to be taking shape in front of all of their eyes.

Shadow had to open his eyes to watch along with his companions as the shapes were formed into what looked to be a cittern for Sonic, and a lute for Espio. All, but Cream and Miles looked stunned at the creation he had made for them. Sonic picked up his new instrument and held it up to look at the front and the back of it, the same with Espio. Their eyes were glued on the craftsmanship of the woodwork and delicate engravings.

"Wow! Miles, this is amazing!" Sonic shouted first as he quickly moved it to position, then played a few cords gently, "It's just like the real thing!"

"Very impressive, Miles." Espio chimed in while he still inspected the instrument before he could play.

Miles was busy blushing madly, he wasn't used to all the compliments, "Oh, really? Well..it's not my best work, but I'm really glad you like them. But the spell doesn't last long. By morning, the instruments will disappear. I'm still working on how to make my spell last longer."

Cream smiled at him, "I think you are doing just fine, Tails." He gasped and slightly glared at her while she looked away with a sheepish smile.

"Tails? So is that your other name?" Amy asked.

The embarrassed fox sighed while placing his staff down beside him, "Well..it was sort of a teasing name some kids back home used to call me. But Miss Cream thought it suit me because of my two tails," he wagged his tails up and down for example, "So, I guess it kinda stuck with me. But I still prefer "Miles" once in a while."

"I kinda like "Tails". You have them so why not let others call you that for fun? Aqua used to call me "Hedgy" once in a while so I'm okay with it." Sonic pointed out while smiling like a goof he is.

Miles looked down at the fire, but couldn't help, but smile a bit, "I guess it wouldn't hurt if anyone else called me that. I think it does suit me, but it's hard because of the teasing I dealt with."

Espio nodded, "You don't have to change your name if someone wants you to." He said while slightly glaring at his blue traveling companion. "But sometimes teasing will help you get stronger in time. You can either embrace it, or leave it." Amy giggled a little.

"You can be pretty wise sometimes, can you?" she asked in a playful way.

He looked at her confused at first, but quickly looked away blushing a bit after realizing what she had meant, "Not very amusing, Amy." he groaned making her giggle a little more.

"Okay, now that we got these here! Let's play! Any request?" Sonic asked while looking at his friends eagerly ready to play.

"Actually, do you mind if you and mister Espio play a fun song? To dance to?" Cream asked sheepishly.

He smiled at her with a nod, then looked over to his side, "What do you think? Wanna start?"

Espio looked at him first, but nodded with a smile. Then both of them lowered their heads to their instruments after getting them positioned. Espio started to play a couple chords at a small pace for the beginning. Sonic was able to read the melody easily, he waited a few more seconds before he joined in, but played a few more chords than him. The melody was jumpy, but smooth, like a song played at a festival for those to dance to. Amy and Cream began to bob their heads gently to the rhythm while Miles looked at them amazed at how easily they picked up on playing. Shadow, his head was lowered again and his eyes were closed, but his ears twitched a bit to the music. He wasn't really into this sort of thing, but he didn't mind being around to listen for a bit.

For the time being, Amy had her eyes closed to listen more closely to the music. It was like she was dancing in her head to each strum and pick they both did. She even imagined a similar dance that was something she had done back in the past. A dance that she had shown with her family when they played music for her. She couldn't help, but stand up after placing the harp down gently with her things.

All eyes, but Shadow's were now watching her as she began to sway to the music all the while her eyes were closed. Each step she took, each wave of her hand she made, it was slowly coming back to her. Cream smiled wide at the beautiful dance Amy was doing. Sonic and Espio looked at each other at first to see if they should continue, but Amy's dancing started picking up speed. They smiled, then went back to their playing only picking up speed for their friend to dance to.

To see what was going on again, Shadow opened his eyes to the dancer before him. His mouth was slightly agape and eyes widened amazed at the performer. The fire was behind Amy and it gave off a warm glow that looked like it surrounding her delicate figure making her look more powerful as she moved. Amy continued to move around without opening her eyes. It made it more easy to listen closely, and was able to help her remember the moves she had done back then. They all watched her sway till they noticed she was getting too close to the fire pit. Sonic stopped his music and was ready to get up and stop her only for the knight to leap up at the right moment and snatch the dancing flower before her feet would touch the burning wood.

Shadow had grabbed her arm and pulled her back so much, Amy tripped over his feet and almost fell backwards. He quickly dipped down and wrapped his other hand around her waist and held her hand firmly with his other holding her in the air. Amy's eyes opened wide after she was pulled away, but were now staring up at the deep ruby colored orbs that stared back at her. Her face was flushed with the same color red as his eyes, her heart couldn't stop beating so loudly. Both were like stone, unable to move. Even if they did realize that the music had fully stopped and they were now staring at them very surprised.

"Sh-Shadow...?" Amy whispered.

As if a string had snapped in his mind, Shadow had her up on her feet and quickly walked away brushing his shoulder gently against hers. She quickly turned around fast and held out her hand to him, "W-Wait! Shadow...!"

"I'll get some more firewood. And I'll be the first look out. You all should get some sleep." He said strongly as if nothing had happened just then.

They all watched him pick up his sword and walk further away from the camp to his look out. Till he was out of view after disappearing into the forest, they all finally turned their attention to Amy who was still standing there stunned. Her face was still red and her hand was now clutching her heart that was almost visibly beating outside her chest. No words were spoken for almost a minute, maybe less till Sonic turned away from the poor girl to his friends.

"What just happened?"